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For myself, and likely myself alone, I would call these units the culmination of first generation power (the turbocharging of the 567 engine – brought about by the UP Omaha GP20′s). To me, the second generation started with the advent of the 645 engine and the room it provided for turbocharging and the corresponding leaps in Hp (and reliable modular electronics). A similar ending came to the 645 with the 50 line of units, as with the above GP30 and GP35. Reliability became a problem as they tried to squeak out all the Hp in the cu. in. available. Thus the 710 brought about the third generation.
Okay, the flogging can now commence.
I actually really like that way of categorizing these – based on technological change, rather than cosmetic change. At least in retrospect, there is something different about seeing GP30s and 35s versus later models. Today, it is interesting to see “former” 30s and 35s in their rebuilt incarnations, like a BNSF “GP30M” or the ex-ATSF “GP38-3″ units CP got from CMQ.
Also – a GP9 and a GP35 have the same frame length. They only started getting longer with the 38/40 series.